Apparatus for heating inflating-gas in balloons.



Re H. UPSON. APPARATUSPOR HEATING INFLATING GAS IN BALL-CONS. APPLICATION HLBD JAN. 29, 1912A l 07320 o Eatented may i9, l.

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STE@ elfirhlhliif @ililittiht RALPH HAZLETT UPSO'N, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE GGODYEAR TIRE NDQ RUBBER COMPANY, 0F AKRON, GHIO, A CORPORATION 0F CBHO.k

APPARATUS EUR HEATNG NFLTNG-GSIN BALLOGNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application iled January 29, 1913. Serial No. 745,027.

To aZZ whom it may concern latingGras in Balloons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus tor artificially hea-ting the gas used in balloons,

especially of the dirigible type. Bricliy, in

large balloons, especially of the dirlgible type, the volume ot' gas is, ot' course, iiicreased by heat and reduced by cold, and hence, when the balloon is iu use and theI sun shines upon the gas bag of the balloon the latter is heated, thereby expanding the gas and increasing its lifting capacity, and when the sun is obscured the lifting qualities of the gas in the balloon are decreased. lt therefore becomes extremely desirable to maintain` the temperature of the gasas nearly constant as possible to thereby maintain the vertical equilibrium of the balloon. It will be obvious thatas the gas generally cmployed for intlating balloons is hydrogen, and is highly intiamniable, and the means for artificially heating the sa me inust be ot' such a nature as will render the employment thereof absolutely safe.

More specifically, this invention eontcin plates producing a condensable Huid, such for instance, as steam, by utilizing thc waste heat from the motor used for propelling the balloon and conveying the fluid generated by said waste heat to the interior of the balloon for heating the gas therein. The liquid produced bythe condensation of the fluid returns to a pump by which it is again passed through a heating device to be again conveyed in the form of a condensa'ble tluid to the interior of the balloon 'With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts constituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended. c,

The View presentedv for illustrating this invent-ion shows a wall of the 'balloon in section and the instrumentalities used for pro-- ducing a condeiisable tiuid diagraininatically and principally in side elevation.

Referring to the drawing in detail,`the reference numeral l denotes a. portion oit' the lower wall of a balloon from which leads e drip-pipe 2 into a tank 3. Extending from the drip-tank 3 is a depending pipe l pro- 'vided with a valve 5 leading to a pump 6 operated by cranks '7 on an extension 8 et the sli-att of a motor 9. The motor 9 is preferably a motor of the internal explosion `type and is provided with a plurality of exhausts which communicate with a common exhaust pipe lO provided with a valve 1'1 and opening at the end 1:2 to the air. Communicating with the exhaust l0 is a branch 13 provided with a valve lil. The lower end ot' the branch 13 is a hollow cylinder A15 provided with an exhaustlt at its lower end. EX-

tending from the opposite end ofthe pump is an outlet l? provided with a alve 1S and extending into the interior ot' the heater l5 and within which the pipe 1T is formed int-o a series of coils, (not shown) so that the heat from the exhaust pipe i3 passing through the heater l5 will heat the liquid contained in the coils of the pipe 1T therein. The o3- posite end of the pipe 17 extends from the heater l5 at the poi-nt lf) and from thence extends a pipe Qt) 'provided with a valve 21, upwardly through the wall of the balloon and it terminates in a Vdischarge nozzle 22. vllxlending between the pipe il and the pipe 17 is a by-pass 23 provided with aY valve The form of the engine, the exhaust, the heater, the pump, and the manner of connectiiig the pipes are all matters of detail,

which are not deemed necessary to describe or tui-ther illustrate in this application to enable a person skilled in the art to under stand the same.4

The operation of the device is as follows: When itis desired to heat the gas in the balloonthe valve 5 in the pipe d is opened, allowing the liquid therein t pass to the pump and at the same time,the valve 2l is closed. The operation of the pump pron dures a current of liquid through the pipe 17 into the heater l5 where it is converted into a condensable fluid and passes upwardly through the pipe 2() and nozzle 22 into the interior of the balloon. where it ininglcs with the gas and heats the saine,

Patented May i9,

is 4penalitted to Work, causing the Water iituin the pipe i to pass outwardly through 'the pipe 17 and back to the pipe 4 through tbe lay-pass 23 past theralve 24. By closthe valvole and openin the valve 11,

V the products of combustion rom the motor pass outwardly from the pipe 10 past the visive ii and discharge into the air through "the outlet 12.,

claim: i

l. A. device for heating the gas in an ini :datable balloon comprising a heater ada ted;n

to be heated at will by the waste heat romi a motor, a pump operable by a motor, af

f drain leading from the interior of said baliaon to said pump, a conduit leading from said pump to said heater, a by-pass extend ing .from ,said last-named conduit to said drain, and an outlet from said heater orthe f heated fluid leading to the interior of said I"halloon.A

fi device for heating the inating duid jin a balloon comprising a motor, a oonduit the discharged heated products 'from omet-or, a receptacle for said products, apump operated by said motor connected with a drain from said balloon, and a dis- -motor positioned in plroximity tothe out- Wt let of said pump, ereby the fluid dis charged from said pump is heated before passing' to the interior of said balloon.

4.'The combination with a balloon provided with a drain, of a pump connected with said drain and with the outlet thereof cnnected with the interior of said balloon, a motor connected with and adapted to operate said pump, a conduit Jfor the heated products of combustion from said motor positioned in proximity to the outlet of said pump, whereb the yiuid discharged from said pump is eated before passing to the interior of said balloon.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence, of tufo subscribing witnesses. y

RALPH HAZLETT UPSON. Witnesses:

C. E. limpian?, [L L. Moaifrooi. 

